Formaldehyde induced fluorescence (Falck & Owman, 1965)

Fixation:
Freeze-dried tissue transferred to a closed box of about 1 litre capacity,
containing 5 g. paraformaldehyde powder. Making sure the lid is tightly
sealed, place the container in an oven at 60C for 1-3 hours.

Sections:
After fixation remove the tissue from container and vacuum-embed in paraffin
wax. Some pprefer to use a paraffin wax with the addition of a high
concentration of plastic poylmer as an aid to thin sectioning. Sections are
cut and mounted on slides.

Method:
After drying the sections in the oven, dewax the sections in xylene and
mount in a suitable mounting medium. Examine sections with the fluorescent
scope using BG38, UG1 and barrier filters.

Results:
Bioactive amines - bright yellow fluoresence.

Enjoy your lunch!


Eric C. Kellar
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rose_Bellantoni@integra-ls.com
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Sent: 8/19/99 5:36 PM
Subject: Catacholamine fluorescence

Histonetters,

I am posting this question for a friend of mine.  He is looking for a
method for fluorescent detection of catecholamines in brain tissue.  He
has
a reference for a Falck-Hillarp method that was publised around 1962.
It
involves formaldehyde and glyoxilic acid, but  the original method is
referenced without the description of the procedure.  He would greatly
appreciate your help.  And I would get a free lunch to boot!

Lots of thanks.

Rose Bellantoni

Integra LifeSciences, CRC
tel:  619-622-2740
fax: 619-535-8269